How to Study Effectively? A Student’s Guide for Students
University and studying — the classic duo
What do you associate university with? Obviously, studying. Of course, student life is not only about studying, because there are also friends, going out, work, series, spontaneous plans and the whole rest of life. But studying is still a pretty important slice of the student-life cake.
That is why I am coming in with my own ways to study effectively, successfully and without spending every day from morning to night over notes. PS: I have never received a grade lower than a 4 in an exam, so I probably know what I am talking about.
1. I know lectures are not compulsory, but… go to them
Yes, I know. Lectures are often not compulsory. And yes, the option of “I’ll just go through the presentation later, same thing…” can sound tempting. But then it turns out the presentation has 80 slides, half of them are just bullet points, and the most important things were said out loud by the lecturer somewhere between one example and another.
Lectures often include information that is not in the materials. The lecturer adds context, gives a real-life example, throws in an interesting fact or explains something in a way that suddenly stays in your head for longer. And that is gold, especially before an exam.
This does not mean you should sit through every class without thinking just because “that’s what you’re supposed to do”. Time optimisation matters too. If, after three lectures in a row, you can clearly see that the lecturer is only reading the slides, adding nothing from themselves, and you are not really getting anything out of it, then maybe those 1.5 hours can actually be used better.
But before you remove a lecture from your weekly schedule, give it a chance. Sometimes it is exactly those low-key classes that save you later in the exam.
2. Find your favourite way to take notes
There is no single perfect note-taking method for everyone. Some people love notebooks, others make mind maps, someone has a million colourful highlighters, and someone else writes everything in an app. The most important thing is to find a system that actually works for you, not one that just looks aesthetic on TikTok.
For me, the best split is this: during lectures, I take notes on my laptop, usually in Notion, and during practical classes, I use a tablet and GoodNotes. Why? Because in lectures, you often need to type quickly, and handwriting simply cannot always keep up with the lecturer’s pace. During practical classes, there are often graphs, arrows, diagrams or exercises, and those are much easier to handle visually.
A good note-taking system should help you study, not create extra chaos. If you open your notes after class and have no idea what the author meant and the author is you that is probably a sign that something needs to change.
3. Use AI, but use it wisely
AI can be a great study support tool, as long as you use it smartly. The point is not to paste in an assignment topic and mindlessly submit whatever it gives you. The point is to treat AI like an assistant that helps you understand a difficult passage, organise material or check whether you understand the topic.
If I do not understand a fragment from a presentation or textbook, I paste it into an AI assistant and ask it to explain it in simpler language. Sometimes I get an explanation better than the one from the lecture, because I can ask follow-up questions as many times as I need without feeling like I am slowing down the whole group.
NotebookLM is also very useful. You can upload your class materials there, and the tool answers your questions based on what you provide. This matters because it does not rely on random information from the internet, only on your files. In other words: the only one who can make things up here is you, in your notes.
NotebookLM can also help create quizzes, presentations, summaries or other materials that support revision before an exam. It is a good option when you have lots of files, several presentations, notes from classes and absolutely no idea where to start.
AI will not replace studying, but it can make studying less chaotic and easier to understand.
4. When you study, actually study
This may be brutal, but it is needed: studying with your phone next to you is often more like pretending to study than actually studying. You are technically reading your notes, but every few minutes you check TikTok, reply to someone, look at a notification, then go back to the beginning of the sentence because you no longer remember what it was about.
Let’s be honest… it is not very effective.
Constantly switching attention between tasks weakens your concentration and productivity. Your brain needs a moment to get into the topic, and if you keep interrupting it with your phone every few minutes, you are basically starting over again and again.
So put your phone away while studying. Seriously. Even just for an hour. Turn on focus mode, hide it in a drawer, leave it on the other side of the room or give it to your flatmate if the situation is critical.
Trust me: in one hour without your phone, you will do more than in five hours with it by your side. And you will still have time for TikTok later - without the guilt.
5. Break the material into smaller parts
I know that among students the “one day before the exam, I’ll cover the whole semester” system is popular, but our brain really does not like it. Psychology shows that cramming, meaning learning “everything at once”, is one of the least effective ways to study and basically guarantees that most of the information will leave your head the next day. If it is some random filler subject, fine. But if this is a subject you will actually need in the future, when you are already working in your chosen profession, I do not see a bright future there… medical, psychology and law students, I am looking at you.
A better and more effective approach is to create your own STUDY PLAN. Count how many days you have left until the exam, divide that by the amount of material and prepare in sections. Trust me, first of all, it will feel less terrifying, and second, your mind and memory will thank you.
6. Change your study spot if your brain says “NO”
Sometimes the problem is not the material, but the place. You are sitting over your notes in your room, staring at the wall, everything is distracting you, your bed is screaming “come take a nap”, and your brain has already left the chat. Sounds like fighting windmills.
That is when it is worth changing your space. Go to a study zone, a shared area, a library, a café or anywhere that makes it easier for you to switch into focus mode. Sometimes just changing your surroundings works like a reset.
At Student Depot, you have the advantage that you do not always have to study only in your room. You can choose your study base depending on the day: sometimes your own room and silence, other times a shared space or a place where it is easier to feel, “okay, now I am actually studying”.
The most important thing is to observe yourself. Not everyone studies well in absolute silence. Not everyone works well in a café. Not everyone can sit at a desk for six hours. Find the conditions in which your brain actually cooperates.
7. Revise before the material disappears
The biggest mistake? Reading something once and deciding, “Okay, I know this.” Unfortunately, your brain is not always that loyal. If you do not come back to the material, a big part of it will simply disappear - often exactly when you sit down in front of the exam paper.
That is why revision matters. It does not have to be long, but it should be regular. You can do a short revision the next day, then after a few days, and once more before the exam. This helps you consolidate information and reduces last-minute panic.
Active recall is also a good method. Instead of only reading your notes, close them and try to answer a question in your own words. You can make flashcards, create a quiz in NotebookLM, prepare short check-up questions or explain the topic to someone else.
If you can explain something simply, it means you are really starting to understand it.
8. Do not study at the expense of sleep, because it will come back for you
I know that sometimes the night before an exam looks like a scene from a disaster movie: coffee, notes, a slight breakdown and a promise that “next time I’ll start earlier”. But regularly pulling all-nighters is really not a flex.
Sleep helps consolidate information, regenerates your brain and makes it possible to think logically during the exam instead of just staring blankly at the questions. Sometimes an extra hour of sleep will give you more than an extra hour of chaotic note-reading at 3 a.m.
Of course, student life can be intense and not everything can be planned perfectly. But if you have a choice between another hour of scrolling and sleep - choose sleep. Your brain will thank you in the morning.
Summary
Effective studying at university is not about spending the longest time with books out of everyone. It is about studying smarter: going to useful lectures, taking notes in a system that works for you, using AI wisely, putting your phone away, breaking the material into smaller parts and revising before the knowledge disappears from your head.
You do not need a perfect plan, the prettiest notes or a life organised like a study influencer from TikTok. You just need to find your rhythm and the methods that really help you understand the material.
And then there is only one thing left: pass the exam, preferably with at least a 4.
FAQ – effective studying at university
How can I study effectively at university?
It is best to combine several methods: go to lectures, take good notes, divide the material into smaller parts, revise regularly and reduce distractions, especially your phone.
Is it worth going to lectures if they are not compulsory?
Yes, if the lecturer adds something from themselves, explains examples and helps you understand the material. If, for several classes in a row, the lecture is only someone reading slides, it is worth thinking about whether that time could be used better.
How do I take good notes at university?
Good notes are notes you actually want to return to before an exam and that you truly understand. You can test different methods: laptop, tablet, notebook, Notion, GoodNotes, OneNote, mind maps or classic flashcards.
Does AI help with studying?
Yes, if you use it consciously. AI can explain difficult fragments, organise material, create test questions and help with revision. However, it should not replace independent thinking.
How can I stop getting distracted by my phone while studying?
The best way is to put your phone out of reach, turn on focus mode or set a specific study block without notifications. Even one hour without your phone can be more effective than several hours of studying while constantly scrolling.
How should I prepare for an exam?
Start by dividing the material into sections, planning revision sessions, doing practice tests, answering questions in your own words and checking which topics still need work.